Origin
East Franklin, PA
Late night in East Franklin on Thursday
Local time
12:37 AM
EDT
Current temp
42°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from East Franklin, PA to Altoona, PA
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
3h 2m
Distance
158.3 mi
255 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$26
one way
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 51m
★
6 AM
3h 2m
8 AM
3h 25m
10 AM
3h 10m
12 PM
3h 8m
3 PM
3h 12m
5 PM
3h 24m
8 PM
2h 56m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
East Franklin, PA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from East Franklin, PA to Altoona, PA covers 158.3 miles and takes about 3h 2m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on PA 901, Sunbury Road, Fairgrounds Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $26.24 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
79.1 miles from East Franklin, PA
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 31m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 3h 2m drive with frequent turns across 158.3 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 30 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
PA 901 is one of the defining roads on this drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive.
Route Complexity
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
The drive from East Franklin, PA to Altoona, PA is easy. At 3h 2m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from East Franklin, PA to Altoona, PA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| PA 901 | — | — |
| Sunbury Road | — | — |
| Fairgrounds Road | — | — |
| Locust Gap Highway | — | — |
| South Market Street | — | — |
| Danville-Riverside Bridge Road | — | — |
| Factory Street | — | — |
| Continental Boulevard | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
PA 901
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between East Franklin, PA and Altoona, PA.
1
Start on the route
0.3 mi
·
32 sec
·
the route
2
Take the ramp right
0.4 mi
·
56 sec
3
Merge slight left
8.7 mi
·
10 min
4
Take the exit slight right toward PA 901
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
·
PA 901
5
Turn left
92 ft
·
7 sec
6
Turn left onto Sunbury Road
4.4 mi
·
5 min
·
Sunbury Road
7
Continue on Fairgrounds Road
2.2 mi
·
2 min
·
Fairgrounds Road
8
Continue on Locust Gap Highway
0.3 mi
·
43 sec
·
Locust Gap Highway
9
Continue on Locust Gap Highway
11 mi
·
13 min
·
Locust Gap Highway
10
Continue on South Market Street
9.7 mi
·
11 min
·
South Market Street
11
Turn right onto Danville-Riverside Bridge Road
0.3 mi
·
46 sec
·
Danville-Riverside Bridge Road
12
Continue on Factory Street
0.1 mi
·
20 sec
·
Factory Street
13
Continue on Continental Boulevard
3.0 mi
·
3 min
·
Continental Boulevard
14
Take the exit slight right
0.4 mi
·
52 sec
15
Merge slight left onto Keystone Shortway
63 mi
·
1 hr 8 min
·
Keystone Shortway
16
Take the exit slight right toward I 99 South, US 220 South, PA 26: Bellefonte
0.3 mi
·
54 sec
·
I 99 South, US 220 South, PA 26: Bellefonte
17
Turn left onto Jacksonville Road
24 mi
·
28 min
·
Jacksonville Road
18
Keep slight left to continue on I 99 South, US 220 South: Port Matilda, Altoona
23 mi
·
24 min
·
I 99 South, US 220 South: Port Matilda, Altoona
19
Take the exit slight right toward PA 764 South: Pinecroft
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
·
PA 764 South: Pinecroft
20
Turn right onto Sabbath Rest Road
0.5 mi
·
52 sec
·
Sabbath Rest Road
21
Turn left onto East Pleasant Valley Boulevard
2.8 mi
·
4 min
·
East Pleasant Valley Boulevard
22
Turn right onto Rutgers Lane
174 ft
·
3 sec
·
Rutgers Lane
23
Continue on East Walton Avenue
0.1 mi
·
15 sec
·
East Walton Avenue
24
Turn right onto Greenwood Road
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Greenwood Road
25
At the end of the road, turn left onto 6th Avenue Road
0.6 mi
·
53 sec
·
6th Avenue Road
26
Continue on East 6th Avenue
0.3 mi
·
23 sec
·
East 6th Avenue
27
Continue on Bellwood Avenue
0.2 mi
·
19 sec
·
Bellwood Avenue
28
Turn slight left onto 7th Avenue
0.4 mi
·
43 sec
·
7th Avenue
29
Turn right onto 7th Street
0.1 mi
·
11 sec
·
7th Street
30
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 79.1 miles from East Franklin, PA, or about 1h 31m into the drive.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 35 miles or 40m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 79.1 miles or 1h 31m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 29m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Altoona, PA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving East Franklin, PA so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from East Franklin, PA
This is one driving day of about 158.3 miles and 3h 2m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 35 miles from East Franklin, PA.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 79.1 mi from East Franklin, PA · 1h 31m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
79 mi into the route
Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset
This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 35 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 79.1 miles from East Franklin, PA, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Altoona, PA
The final approach into Altoona, PA usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around Altoona, PA.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$26.24 one way
$52.49 round trip
$4.21/gal
25.4 MPG avg
55 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $28.74 | $57.49 |
| premium | $4.93 | $30.70 | $61.40 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $34.95 | $69.90 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$26
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$51–$76
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 55.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $17 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 47.5 | 0 | $16.62 | $7.60 |
| Efficient EV | 39.6 | 0 | $13.85 | $6.33 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 63.3 | 0 | $22.16 | $10.13 |
Gas CO2
55 kg
EV CO2
19 kg (65% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Destination
Altoona, PA
Late night in Altoona on Thursday
Local time
12:37 AM
EDT
Current temp
65°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
60°F
Carroll, PA
79 mi in
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
23 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
3h 2m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from East Franklin, PA to Altoona, PA covers 158.3 miles and takes about 3h 2m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are PA 901, Sunbury Road, Fairgrounds Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 79.1 miles from East Franklin, PA. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $26.24 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
The drive from East Franklin, PA to Altoona, PA is easy. At 3h 2m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from East Franklin, PA to Altoona, PA is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from East Franklin, PA to Altoona, PA does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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